The Great Conflict

You silently open the door and find that it is at the base of a tall stair case leading up to a ground level hallway. You silently creep up the stairs and poke your head up just enough to see the hallway itself. It is illuminated by several torches and there are two peasant guards patrolling the hallway. Each is armed only with a wooden staff but they have a magical he about them indicating that they have been enhanced. You may approach attacking them in several different ways. You can use your PEAR which will be effective in dispatching the guards rapidly but may generate some noise. You may alternatively use your energy pistol to incapacitate them and then you may slaughter them. A third alternative is to move in and use hand to hand combat techniques to try to quickly and silently dispose of them before they may raise an alarm. A final option would be to use the nerve gas you have been given, after of course donning the gas mask.